Abstract
Modeling procedures for nonlinear kinematic and dynamic analysis of 25 commonly used light vehicle suspensions have been developed and applied to investigate the spatial movement of vehicle roll axis. A nonlinear tire model based on a friction ellipse concept and capable of accepting Calspan tire data has been developed to compute cornering forces as functions of slip angle variables, normal loads, tire adhesion characteristics and skid numbers. Development of handling simulation models of light vehicles which utilize the dynamics of specified suspensions to investigate a transient and steady state response of vehicles in combined, cornering and braking or accelerating maneuvers is presented.